There’s no shortage of excitement surrounding Steam’s long-time project, DOTA 2. There have been many game companies that have tried to re-create the success of the original Warcraft mod, and it seems like Steam will be the one to come forward with the rightful heir.

Part of the hype surrounding DOTA 2 has been the lack of information about the game, since it has been in private beta for so long. The biggest questions surround how Steam will approach monetizing the platform, with the understanding that other game developers have already played their hand in this arena. So, to demonstrate that forward momentum is in fact being made with this game, Steam announced that DOTA 2 will be free to play.

Really, DOTA 2 has to be free to play. As it stands right now, the game is up against some pretty tough competition in being the best action RTS out there. Aside from needing to convince players that they have the best game, Steam needs to compete in pricing, but also needs to keep the game interesting and make money. So, instead of charging for the game, for characters, or in-game combat boosts, DOTA 2 will be totally free.

What you will pay for instead is the ability to stand out among the hordes of players that are using the same character as you. Sure, you have figured out the best build for your Broodmother to bring the enemy to their knees, but wouldn’t you like to be known by your peers as “that one Broodmother player with the sick looking armor”? That’s the goal of the DOTA Store.

Essentially, you’ll be able to equip your character with custom looking weapons and armor. These items don’t do anything for you in the game, you character will play exactly the same. What you gain is the personal flair that you can attach to your character for notoriety when you take down your opponent.

The items in the DOTA Store will cost real money, and the items are bound to your character. If you don’t see something you like, you can submit item ideas to the Steam Workshop for approval. Steam has used the Workshop for other games in the past, and has a rich history of great cash payouts for users who have created nice gear.

If you’ve got a DOTA 2 invite already, you’ll have first shot at playing with new armor and weapons before the game goes public, whenever that actually happens.